Rank: 1 (Previous rank: 14)
What makes it so great?
Employee enthusiasm for the legendary egalitarian culture helped catapult NetApp to No. 1 after six years on our list.
Typical of its down-to-earth management ethos, NetApp early on ditched a travel policy a dozen ­pages long in favor of this maxim: “We are a frugal company. But don’t show up dog-tired to save a few bucks. Use your common sense.” Rather than business plans, many units write “future histories,” imagining where their business will be a year or two out.

And the benefits are tops: five paid days for volunteer work, $11,390 adoption aid, and autism coverage — used by 43 employees since 2006 at a cost of $242,452. The company has gained market share during the slump, hasn’t had layoffs, and has more than $2 billion in cash on hand to help it ride out the global financial crisis.

Rank: 2 (Previous rank: 4)
What makes it so great?
The stock market collapse reduced partner distributions and bonuses, but Jim Weddle, who heads the brokerage, assured associates the firm had no exposure to high-risk mortgages or financial derivatives and no plans for layoffs. Jones hired 698 new financial advisors in the first ten months of 2008 and is building an addition to its St. Louis headquarters for 500 new employees.
Headquarters: 12555 Manchester Road
St. Louis, MO 63131
2007 revenue ($ millions): 4,147
Website: www.edwardjones.com

What makes it so great?
Recent offerings at this family-owned supermarket chain: Employees could buy gift cards of up to $250 at a 10% discount to help with food costs; Wegmans is also rolling out free yoga classes at each of its stores.
Headquarters: 1500 Brooks Avenue
Rochester, NY 14603
2007 revenue ($ millions): 4,511
Website: www.wegmans.com

6. Cisco Systems

Rank: 6 (Previous rank: 6)
What makes it so great?
CEO John Chambers is focusing on collaborative efforts to give employees more say in decision-making. With over $26 billion in cash and investments, Cisco is poised to ride out the business slowdown and has about 500 job openings, mostly across engineering disciplines and in “customer advocacy.”
Headquarters: 170 West Tasman Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
2007 revenue ($ millions): 34,900
Website: www.cisco.com

7. Genentech

Rank: 7 (Previous rank: 5)
What makes it so great?
The biotech leader continued to resist a takeover by shareholder Roche; it also implemented retention bonuses and severance ranging from 18 to 52 weeks’ pay for anyone terminated after a merger.
Headquarters: 1 DNA Way
South San Francisco, CA 94080
2007 revenue ($ millions): 11,724
Website: www.gene.com

Rank: 9 (Previous rank: 9)
What makes it so great?
Wall Street survivor turned itself into a bank holding company in September and laid off some 3,000 people across the globe by year-end. Top seven officers agreed to forgo bonuses, but rest of staff was in line to receive performance bonuses, albeit at a lower rate.
Headquarters: 85 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
2007 revenue ($ millions): 45,987
Website: www.gs.com

10. Nugget Market

Rank: 10 (Previous rank: 12)
What makes it so great?
Sales have yet to slump at this crazy-fun supermarket chain, which in 81 years has never had a layoff.
Headquarters: 168 Court St.
Woodland, CA 95695
2007 revenue ($ millions): 273
Website: www.nuggetmarket.com